Perceived Attractiveness of Sexualized Versus Non-sexualized Females on Online Dating Apps
Abstract
Sexualization on social media has become a popular and noteworthy trend. While some scholars have examined the influence of sexualization on ratings of others’ attractiveness, previous research has not included direct comparisons between genders, and most studies focused on Western contexts. Therefore, this study investigates the perceived attractiveness of sexualized versus non-sexualized females on online dating apps in China. A total of 218 participants, including 104 males and 114 females aged 18-30 were recruited to complete the online questionnaire and evaluate the attractiveness of either the sexualized or non-sexualized female profile owners. The results indicated certain negative impacts of sexualization on others’ attractiveness ratings. Both males and females evaluated sexualized female profile owners as possessing less task attractiveness, and males also rated them less socially and physically attractive. However, the gender disparity signifies that women may adopt a sexualized image as an ideal self, intensifying self-objectification and causing negative effects.
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